Convertible sofa-bed



March 15, 1966 J. J. BARABAS ETAL CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20 1963 s a 7 S IE mm Wait/fi JHW.

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March 15, 1966 J. J. BARABAS ETAL CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BED 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20, 1963 7 mg m mm E TA E mm V555 T N T M 0 m J w4 w Z- United States Patent 3,239,851 CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BED John J. Barahas, New Rochelle, Joseph A. Brindisi,

Uniondale, and Andrew F. Lenart, Jackson Heights,

N.Y., assignors to Castro Convertible Corporation, New

Hyde Park, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 20, 1963, Ser. No. 281,471 4 Claims. (Cl. -13) This invention relates to convertible sofa-beds; more particularly, this invention relates to operating mechanisms used in convertible sofa-beds. Still more particularly, this invention relates to operating mechanisms used in convertible sofa-beds of the type in which the bedportion of the sofa-bed is folded up and stored in the sofa frame when the sofa-bed is used as a sofa.

A sofa-bed of the type mentioned above is shown in US. Patent 3,041,634 and the present invention provides a sofa-bed which is an improvement over that shown in the above patent.

Although the operating mechanism of the present invention can be utilized in any of a number of varieties of the above type of sofa-bed, it is used most advantageously in the sofa-bed of the variety shown in the above-mentioned patent. In this variety, sometimes known as a four-section sofa-bed, the longest dimension of the bed, when opened out, is in a direction perpendicular to the back of the sofa; that is, in this variety the sleeper ordinarily sleeps with his body perpendicular to the back of the sofa.

An invention related to the present invention and especially useful in the three-section variety of this type of sofa-bed, that is, in the variety in which the sleeper ordinarily sleeps with his body parallel to the sofa back, is shown in my co-pending United States patent application Serial No. 281,472 filed on May 20, 1963.

When sofa-beds of this type are converted from beds into sofas, the mattress, mattress support and operating mechanism are folded together compactly and stored in the sofa frame. When so folded up, the mattress support is positioned so as to provide a support for the sofa seat cushions and is hidden from view behind the frontboard, that is, the board forming the frontal portion of the sofa frame just beneath the seat cushions. Because of the bulk of the folded mechanism and mattress, it has been customary in the past to make the frontboard movable by attaching it to the operating mechanism. With the frontboard attached directly to the operating mechanism, the folded mechanism and mattress can be swung out of the frame without having to rise to a great height to clear the frontboard. Instead, they need rise over only a rather low and narrow portion of the front of the sofa frame.

This arrangement presents several disadvantages. First, since the movable footboard is not attached to the frame, the thin rail remaining in the front portion of the sofa frame gives relatively little structural support to the sofas arms. Thus, the arms may come loose from the sofa frame more readily than if the front of the sofa frame provided more structural support. Furthermore, any slight misalignment of the bed mechanism may cause the edges of the movable frontboard to rub against the upholstery of the sofa and wear it out in spots or rip it when the bed is opened or closed. This adds expense to maintenance of the bed in that renpholstering of the sofa or realignment of the operating mechanism may be necessary.

Furthermore, if the frontboard becomes misaligned with respect to the remainder of the sofa frame during use, unsightly openings may be left in the front of the sofa-bed to mar its appearance.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a convertible sofa-bed in which the frontboard does not abrade the sofa-beds upholstery when the sofa-bed is opened, and in which the frontboard adds to both the appearance and the structural strength of the sofas frame It has been suggested in the past to solve the above problems by hinging the frontboard directly to the frame and linking it to the operating mechanism so that it is swung out from the sofa on its hinges by the mechanism. Cther arrangements also have been proposed in which the frontboard is similarly movable away from the sofa frame. However, none of these proposed arrangements has been satisfactory because, besides adding complexity to the sofa-beds operating mechanism, the frontboard still abrades the sofas upholstery and adds difiiculty and cost to the upholstering process.

Another solution proposed in the past has been to permanently attach the frontboard to the frame and redesign the operating mechanism to clear the frontboard as it is swung out from the sofa frame. In one such proposal, one set of support legs for the opened bed has been eliminated so that the legs would not hit the fixed frontboard as the bed was opened. This, however, reduces the support otherwise given to the mattress and allows the mattress to sag under the weight of a sleeper. Other elaborate operating mechanisms have been proposed to clear a fixed frontboard, but they have proved to be costly and otherwise impractical.

Therefore, it is another object of this invention to provide a convertible sofa-bed which has a frontboard fixed to the sofa frame to strengthen the frame and improve its appearance.

It is a further object of this invention -to provide such a sofa-bed in which the bed is solidly supported from the floor and does not appreciably sag under the weight of those sleeping on it.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a sofa-bed having a simple operating mechanism that rises over and easily clears the fixed frontboard of the sofa.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a sofa-bed having such a frontboard-clearing mechanism which is easily operated, is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain and is substantially free from malfunction.

The drawings and descriptions that follow describe the invention and indicate some of the Ways in which it can be used so as to meet the above-stated objects. In addition, some of the advantages provided by the invention will be pointed out.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a convertible sofabed embodying the present invention, with the sofa-bed shown fully folded-up for use as a sofa;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the sofa-bed of FIGURE 1 with the sofa-bed shown fully unfolded to form a bed;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional, partially schematic view of the sofa-bed of FIGURE 1, taken along line AA, in the direction of the arrows, showing the sofabed fully folded;

FIGURE 4 is a view like that of FIGURE 3 showing the sofa-bed partially unfolded;

FIGURE 5 is a view like that of FIGURE 3 showing the sofa-bed nearly unfolded;

FIGURE 6 is a view like that of FIGURE 3 showing the sofa-bed completely unfolded to form a bed;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing a portion of the sofa-bed shown in FIGURES 1 through 6.

The sofa-bed generally indicated at 10 in FIGURE 1 comprises a wooden frame 12 with a sofa-bed cushion 14, a pair of arms 16, and a pair of seat cushions 18. Four feet 20 support the sofa-bed above the floor and give it a modern, off-the-floor appearance.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, a mattress 22 and a mattress-support generally indicated at 24 (also see FIG- URE 7) is supported between a pair of side-linkages generally indicated at 26, each of which is located at one side of the sofa-bed 10. These side-linkages 26 are components of an operating mechanism which is generally indicated at 28.

The bed portion of the sofa-bed 10 has its longest dimension in a direction perpendicular to the sofa back 14. For this reason, the sleeper usually sleeps with his body perpendicular to the sofa back, that is, with his body aligned in the direction indicated by arrow 32 in FIG- URE 2.

In accordance with the present invention, the frontboard 30 which forms the front portion of the sofa frame 12 is secured directly to the frame instead of attaching it to the operating mechanism 28 as has been common to do in the past. This adds substantially to the sofas structural strength, and especially strengthens the connection of the arms 16 to the frame. The arms can he sat upon and otherwise abused without their coming loose from the frame. In addition, there are no cracks or separations between the frontboard or the frame to mar the sofa-bed appearance. Furthermore, there is no abrading or ripping of the sofa upholstery by the operating mechanism 28 of the present invention because there is no movable frontboard to become mis-aligned and scrape the nearby upholstery during the folding and unfolding of the bed.

Sofa-bed 10 is sometimes known as a four-section sofa-bed. This is because each side-linkage 26 of the operating mechanism 28 is composed of four sections pivotally connected to one another. These four sections are an inner section, an intermediate section, a connecting section, and an end section, each of which is generally indicated, respectively, at 34, 36, 38, and 40 (see FIG- URES 3 through 6). These four sections are folded together so that the mattress-support (bed-springs) 24 forms a resilient platform upon which the seat cushions 18 rest when the sofa-bed is used as a sofa.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 through 6, the mattress 22 and bed-springs 24 are upheld from the floor by a pair of front legs 42, a pair of intermediate legs generally indicated at 44, and by the sofa frame 12 to which the operating mechanism 28 is attached. Each pair of legs 42 and 44 is arranged with one leg forming a part of one side-linkage 26 at one side of the bed and the other leg forming a part of the other side-linkage 26 at the opposite side of the bed.

When the bed is folded into the sofa frame 12, the front legs 42 fold up as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, and substantially as described in the above-mentioned US. Patent No. 3,041,634.

In accordance with the present invention, the intermediate legs 44 have a telescoping construction which allows them to pass over the high frontboard 30 without hitting it. This construction makes it truly practical to use an intermediate leg in a 4-section, fixed-frontboard sofa-bed arrangement. As a result, the bed 10 gives a firmer, more nearly sag-free support to the sleeper without adding substantial additional cost and complexity of the operating mechanism. Other features and advantages provided by the present invention will be discussed in greater detail below.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 through 6, each sidelinkage 26 of operating mechanism 28 is mounted to sofa frame 12 by means of a generally L-shaped mounting bracket 46 which is afiixed to frame 12 by means of screws. A rear swing-link 48 and a forward swing-link 50 are pivotally attached to mounting bracket 46 at points 52 and 54, respectively, by means of bolts. Rear swinglink 48 is pivoted to inner bed section 34 at point 56. Similarly, front swing-link 50 is pivotally connected at 58 to a linkage which is connected to the inner and intermediate bed sections 34 and 36. This linkage includes a long link 60 which is pivotally connected to front swinglink 50 at point 58 and at point 62 to a tab 64 which is rigidly attached to inner bed section 34. This linkage also includes a short link 66 which is pivoted at 58 to front swing-link 50 and at 68 to intermediate bed section 36. Thus, when the sofa bed is fully unfolded as shown in FIGURES 2 and 6 rear swing-link 48 provides support for the inner end of inner bed section 34, and the front swing-link supports the forward portion of inner section 34 and the rear portion of intermediate section 36.

Inner bed section 34 is pivoted at 70 to intermediate section 36 which is, in turn, pivoted at 72 to connecting section 38. Connecting section 38 is pivoted at 74 to end bed section 40. When the bed is being folded and unfolded, swing-links 48 and 50 act as guides and aid in swinging the bed into and out of the frame.

Pivotally connected at 76 to the rearward curved end of long link 60 is a strut-link 78 which is pivoted at 80 to rear swing-link 48. When the bed is fully unfolded as shown in FIGURES 2 and 6, strut-link 78 is locked in position by long link 60, which is locked in position as described below. With strut-link 78 locked in this manner, the rear portion of inner section 34 is solidly supported by rear swing-link 48 and will not sag under the weight of a sleeper.

The weight of a sleeper is applied to the forward end of inner section 34 and the rear end of connecting section 36 and tends to make the bed sag. However, 'both of these ends are supported by front swing-link 50 through long link 60 and short link 66. Long link 60, forward swinglink 50, and short link 66 are all locked in position by the rearward thrust provided by a pusher link 82 which is pivoted to short link 66 at 84. Pusher link 82 is pivoted at 86 to a crank-shaped arm 88. Weight placed on the bed tends to rotate forward swing-link 50 clockwise about its pivot 54 and, therefore, imparts a forward thrust to short link 66. Crank arm 88 supplies a rearward thrust through pusher link 82 which balances the forward thrust of link 66 and locks it in position as will now be described.

Crank arm 88 is pivoted at 90 to intermediate bed section 36. Its lower portion is pivotally connected at 92 to a leg-telescoping link 94 which is pivoted at 96 to a section 98 of telescoping leg 44. A first locking link 102 is pivoally connected at to telescoping leg sec- .tion 98 and is pivoted at 104 to a second locking link 106. Locking link 106 is pivoted at 108 to a corner plate 110. Forward thrust by pusher link 82 on crank arm 88 at point 86 tends to rotate crank arm 88 clockwise about its pivot 90. However, crank arm 88 is prevented from so rotating by corner plate 110 which is locked in position. Pivotally connected links 94, 102 and 106 are serially connected to rigid corner plate 110 and thus prevent the clockwise rotation of crank arm 88. This locks the inner and intermediate bed sections in position and prevents them from sagging under the Weight of a sleeper.

Corner plate 110 is pivoted at 112 to end bed section 40 and is locked in position substantially as described in the above-mentioned Patent 3,041,634. Any pull exerted on plate 110 through link 106 is resisted by a counter-thrust on a pin 114 carried by corner plate 110 just above pivot 112. This pin rides in a slot 116 in the rear portion of a link 118 and, in the position shown in FIG- URE 6, abuts the forward end of slot 116, thus preventing clockwise rotation of corner plate 110 about pivot 112.

The forward end of link 118 is pivoted at 120 to a front-leg-folding link 122. Leg-folding link 122 is pivoted at 124 to the upper end of leg 42 and is pivoted at 126 to connecting bed section 38. Leg 42 is pivoted to end bed section 40 at 128.

When the forward end of the bed is lifted to start folding the bed, end bed section 40 pivots about point 74 with respect to connecting section 38, as is shown in FIGURE 5. This causes leg-folding link 122 to shift forward with respect to end section 40 and rotates leg 42 about its pivot 128 to fold the leg in a clockwise direction. Further lifting of end section 40 folds the mattress 22 and bed springs 24 into a U-shaped package in which end section 40 is parallel to intermediate section 36 and connecting section 38 is substantially perpendicular to both the intermediate and end sections. This phase of the folding action is accomplished substantially as shown and described in the above-mentioned Patent 3,041,634.

When the mattress and bed springs are folded into a U-shaped form as described above, inter-mediate leg 44 is still fully extended and fully supports the weight of the partially folded bed, which, at this point, rests at a position just above the frontboard 30. As a result, the bed is stable in this position and is not likely to fall down and cause an accident to the bed operator. When the bed is in the above-described partially folded, U- shaped position, the operator lifts the bed further to swing it into the sofa frame as is shown in FIGURE 4. In so doing this he actuates the unique folding mechanism of the intermediate leg to telescope it quickly and effectively reduce its length so that it will clear the fixed frontboard 30 of the sofa frame as the bed passes over the frontboard.

Telescoping leg 44 includes the previously-mentioned telescoping section or member 98 which is slidably attached to a second telescoping member or section 130 by means of a pair of pins 132 which slide in a slot 134 in member 130. First telescoping member 98 is pivoted at point 136 to a tab 138 which is secured to the forward end of intermediate bed section 36. A guiding or folding member 140 is pivoted to tab- 138 at a point 142 which is spaced from pivot point 136 of first telescoping leg member 98. Guiding or folding member 140 is pivotally attached to section 130 of leg 44 at point 144. A roller 146 is rotatably secured to leg 44 at .point 144.

As the partially-folded, U-shaped bed is lifted to be swung into sofa-bed frame 12, inner bed section 34 moves downwardly and rotates about point 70 with respect to intermediate section 36 as is shown in FIGURE 4. This rotation imparts a forward thrust to long link 60 and the rear portion of crank arm 88 through pusher link 82. Crank arm 88 is no longer locked against rotation by corner plate 110 because corner plate 110 has been rotated around to the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 during the initial steps of folding the sofa-bed and locking links 102 and 106 are no longer in a position to lock crank arm 88 in position. Crank arm 88 therefore rotates clockwise about its pivot 90 in response to the forward thrust delivered through pusher link 82. Rotating crank arm 88 pulls on link 04 which, in turn, pulls on telescoping leg member 98 and guiding link 140 and rotates them clockwise about their pivots 136 and 142. Since the pivot point 136 of member 98 is spaced from the pivot point 142 of member 140, guiding link 140 causes members 130 and 98 to slide or telescope with respect to one another to effectively shorten the length of leg 44 as the leg simultaneously is being folded. As the bed is moved further into the frame, short link 66 rotates clockwise about point 68 under the thrust supplied by long link 60 and guides pusher link 82 in rotating crank arm 88 to fold and telescope leg 44.

The unique telescoping action described above rapidly shortens the leg 44 so that it easily clears the high frontboard 30 of sofa frame 12. What is more, it does so with the use of a minimum of links and uses as it actuating mechanism the same linkage used to lock the bed in its fully unfolded position.

During unfolding of the sofa-bed, the action of operating mechanism 28 and of telescoping leg 44 is substantially the reverse of the operation described above.

As is more fully described in the above-mentioned Patent 3,041,634, as the partially-folded bed is swung into the sofa frame, a great pulling force is exerted on corner member through links 102 and 106 to compress the mattress 22 and bed springs 24 together in a compact package. When the bed is moved into the frame to a position just beyond that shown in FIGURE 4, link 102 makes contact with a tab 148 projecting from the rear edge of telescoping leg member 98. As is more fully explained in the above-mentioned patent, this action locks the bed in its compressed condition and saves the person from the strenuous effort of compressing effort of compressing it together.

As is shown in FIGURE 7, when the bed is fully unfolded the bed springs 24 are close to the upper edge of the frontboard 30. In this position, the mattress and springs can sag under the Weight of a sleeper and come into forcible contact with the upper edge of the frontboard. This could cause considerable discomfort to the sleeper. However, a protective member 150 is attached at both of its ends to one of the intermediate bed sections 36 of each side-linkage 26. Member 150 prevents the mattress from sagging and making forcible contact with the upper edge of frontboard 30.

As is shown in FIGURES 3 through 6, two springs 152 are stretched between a pair of plates 154 and 156. Plate 154 is pivoted at 158 to mounting bracket 46 and plate 156 is pivoted at 160 to a bracket 162 which is afiixed to forward swing-link 50. When the bed is folded as shown in FIGURE 3, forward swing-link 50 is rotated counterclockwise to the position shown in FIGURE 3 so that the springs 152 are stretched out. The restoring force exerted by these stretched springs acts on forward swing-link 50 through plate 162 to aid the user of the bed in opening and unfolding it, as is described in the abovementioned Patent 3,041,634.

Attached to bracket 162 is another bracket 164. A stop-bar 166 is attached at each of its ends to one of the brackets 164 at each side of the sofa-bed. As is seen in FIGURE 3, stop-bar 166 extends beneath the sofa and supports the bed in its folded up, compressed condition and thus provides a firm support for the forward portion of the folded-up bed. Stop-bar 166 also gives the operating mechanism added lateral stability.

The upper end of forward leg 42 is shaped so that it abuts against a projection 168 which is afiixed to long link 60 so that when the bed is folded up it forms a rigid package which will solidly support the seat cushions 18 and the weight of a sitter on the sofa. The rear portion of the bed mechanism is suspended from rear swing-link 48 which is securely supported in the frame 12 at pivot point 52. With this arrangement, the folded up sofabed forms a rigid, compact package which is securely supported in the sofa frame at both its forward and rear ends.

As is best seen in FIGURES 2 and 7, a headboard 170 is attached to a pair of brackets 172 each of which is pivoted at 174 to the inner end of one of the inner bed sections 34. A pin at point 80 moves in a curved slot 176 in bracket 172 and causes headboard 170 to fold downwardly and into the sofa frame during folding of the bed. Headboard 170 prevents the head of a sleeper from contacting and soiling the sofa back cushion 14 while he is sleeping on the bed. The construction and operation of headboard 170 is substantially as shown and described in co-pending United States patent application No. 45,751, now Patent No. 3,107,366, filed on July 27, 1960.

As is best seen in FIGURE 7, the inner or head-portion of mattress support 24 is constructed so that it can be raised to provide a prop for the head and shoulders of one using the bed, giving him a comfortable back-rest for reading, watching television or eating in bed. A propping mechanism 178 is provided at each side of this inner portion of bed springs 24. Propping mechanism 178 is well known in the prior art and will not be described in detail. Propping mechanism 178 acts automatically to prop the head-portion up when it is lifted a first time and then releases it when it is lifted a second time. A flexible handle 180 is also provided at each side of the head-portion of bed springs 24 for the users convenience in lifting the head-portion upwardly to prop it.

As is shown in FIGURE 2, a support member 182 is attached between corner plates 110 on opposite sides of the bed to give lateral stability to the operating mechanism 28 and insure that both of its sides move together during unfolding or folding of the bed. Support member 182 also serves as a lifting bar which can be easily grasped by the beds user to fold or unfold the bed. Another stabilizing strut 184 is attached between telescoping legs 44 to add additional lateral stability to the operating mechanism.

A cover 186 is provided to protect the seat cushions 18 from being damaged by contact with the bed springs 24 when the sofa is sat upon. Support member 182 serves as a support for the forward portion of cover 186 when the bed is folded up.

The above description of the invention is intended to be illustrative and not in limitation thereof. Various changes or modifications in the embodiment described may occur to those skilled in the art and these may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

We claim:

1. In a convertible sofa-bed having a fixed frontboard, an operating mechanism which passes over said frontboard when it is operated to convert said sofa-bed from a bed to a sofa or from a sofa to a bed, said operating mechanism including a pair of side-linkages, one of said linkages being positioned at each side of said mechanism, a foldable mattress support attached between said linkages, at least one pair of telescoping, bed-supporting legs, each of which is connected into one of said side linkages and includes first and second members attached to one another so as to be slidable with respect to one another to shorten or lengthen said legs, one of said first and second members being pivotally connected to said linkage, and a third member which is pivotally attached to the other of said first and second members, said third member also being pivotally attached to said linkage at a point spaced from the point at which said one of said first and second members is connected to said linkage, and a link pivotally connected to one of said members and to said linkage for folding and unfolding and shortening and lengthening said leg in response to folding and unfolding movement of said operating mechanism.

2. In a convertible sofa-bed having a fixed frontboard, an operating mechanism which passes over said frontboard when it is operated to convert said sofa-bed from a bed to a sofa or from a sofa to a bed, said operating mechanism including a pair of side-linkages, one of said linkages being positioned at each side of said mechanism, a foldable mattress support attached between said linkages, at least one pair of telescoping, bed-supporting legs, each of which is connected into one of said side linkages and includes first and second members attached to one another so as to be slidable with respect to one another to shorten or lengthen said legs, one of said first and second members being pivotally connected to said linkage, and a link pivotally connected to said side-linkage and to the other of said members, said link being adapted to effect the telescoping of said members with respect to one another to shorten said leg in response to folding movement of said operating mechanism.

3. A convertible sofa-bed including a sofa-frame with a fixed frontboard, a foldable mattress support, a mattress on said mattress support, and an operating mechanism for guiding and folding said mattress and said mattress support into said frame and for guiding and unfolding said mattress and said mattress support out of said frame to form a bed, said operating mechanism including a pair of side-linkages, one at each side of said mattress support, each of said side-linkages including inner, intermediate, connecting, and end sections, all pivotally connected to one another, at least two pairs of legs for upholding said mattress and said mattress support from the floor, each leg of at least one of said pairs of legs being adapted to telescope and change its length to enable it to pass over said fixed frontboard when said mechanism is being folded or unfolded, each of said telescoping legs including a pair of elongated members connected together so as to be slidable with respect to one another in the direction of their longitudinal axes, one of said members being pivotally attached to said intermediate section of one of said side-linkages, and a restraining link pivotally attached to the other of said members and to said intermediate section at a position spaced from that at which said one member is attached, and a leg-telescoping and folding linkage including a bell crank pivotally connected to said intermediate section, a first link pivotally connecting said bell crank to one of said telescoping leg members, a second link pivotally connected to said bellcrank, a third link pivotally connected to said intermediate section and to said second link, and means for swinging said third link about its pivotal connection with said intermediate section and actuating said bell-crank to fold and contract said telescoping leg in response to folding movement of said operating mechanism, and to unfold and extend said leg in response to unfolding movement of said mechanism.

4. In a convertible sofa-bed having a fixed frontboard, an operating mechanism which passes over said frontboard when it is operated to convert said sofa-bed from a bed to a sofa or from a sofa to a bed, said operating mechanism including a pair of side-linkages, one of said linkages being positioned at each side of said mechanism, a foldable mattress support attached between said linkages, at least one pair of telescoping, bed-supporting legs, each of which is connected into one of said side linkages and includes first and second members attached to one another so as to be slidable with respect to one another to shorten or lengthen said legs, one of said first and second members being connected to said linkage, and a link pivotally connected to said side linkage and to the other of said members, said link being adapted to effect the telescoping of said members with respect to one another to shorten said leg in response to folding movement of said operating mechanism.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,220,016 3/1917 Sisbower et al. 5313 X 2,184,713 12/1939 Frech et al. 5313 3,024,473 3/1962 Bebry et al. 513 3,041,634 7/1963 Willis 5-13 OTHER REFERENCES 985,706 3/ 1951 France.

1911 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

4. IN A CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BED HAVING A FIXED FRONTBOARD, AN OPERATING MECHANISM WHICH PASSES OVER SAID FRONTBOARD WHEN IT IS OPERATED TO CONVERT SAID SOFA-BED FROM A BED TO A SOFA OR FROM A SOFA TO A BED, SAID OPERATING MECHANISM INCLUDING A PAIR OF SIDE-LINKAGES, ONE OF SAID LINKAGES BEING POSITIONED AT EACH SIDE OF SAID MECHANISM, A FOLDABLE MATTRESS SUPPORT ATTACHED BETWEEN SAID LINKAGES, AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF TELESCOPING BED-SUPPORTING LEGS, EACH OF WHICH IS CONNECTED INTO ONE OF SAID SIDE LINKAGES AND INCLUDES FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS ATTACHED TO ONE ANOTHER TO AS TO BE SLIDABLE WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER TO SHORTEN OR LENGTHEN SAID LEGS, ONE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID LINKAGE, AND A LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SIDE LINKAGE AND TO THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID LINK BEING ADAPTED TO EFFECT THE TELESCOPING OF SAID MEMBERS WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER TO SHORTEN SAID LEG IN RESPONSE TO FOLDING MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATING MECHANISM. 